Three Card 21 Card Game

ABSTRACT

A blackjack-style card game method provides three cards to each of the dealer and the player. The player may place a main bet or a side bet, or both. If the player has placed a main bet, the player may also place a double down bet. The main bet is won or lost in accordance with standard rules of blackjack. The player may win the side bet with certain combinations of cards having different winning payouts

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a method of playing a card game based on the wellknown game of “21” or blackjack.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0002] In one embodiment, the invention may comprise a method of playing a game of cards between a dealer and a player using at least one standard deck of cards, comprising the steps of: (a) allowing the player to place a main bet or a side bet, or both a main bet and a side bet; (b) dealing two cards face up to each of the dealer and the player; (c) allowing the player to place a double-down bet, if the player has made a main bet; (d) dealing a third card face up to each of the dealer and the player; (e) collecting the main bet and the double-down bet (if placed) from the player if the sum of the player's cards exceeds 21 or if the sum of the dealer's cards exceeds the player but not 21; or paying the main bet and the double-down bet (if placed) to the player if the sum of the dealer's cards exceeds 21 or if the sum of the player's cards exceeds the dealer but not 21; and (f) paying any side bet in accordance with a pre-established set of rules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0003] When describing the present invention, all terms not defined herein have their common art-recognized meanings. The term “live casino game” is intended to encompass a game in which the house acts as the banker, the house collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers. The term “wager” is used synonymously with the term “bet”. The dealer is employed by the house and each player plays exclusively against the house.

[0004] The method of the present invention is intended to be practiced as a live casino game in a casino or gaming house environment where players may wager against the house, but may not be restricted to such an environment. The basic object of the game is to achieve a hand of cards close to or equal to 21 without exceeding 21. If a hand exceeds 21, the player or dealer is said to have “bust”. The card game method of the present invention may be played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and is preferably played with at least three decks, and is more preferably played with six decks of cards. As is conventionally the case, numerical cards are valued at their face value, face cards count as 10 and aces count as 1 or 11 points.

[0005] The dealer plays against each player one at a time. If there are two or more players, they must take turns playing. Play begins with each player making either a main bet or a side bet, or both a main bet and a side bet, which may be any sum allowed by the house. The main bet is won, lost or pushed in accordance with the basic rules of blackjack described above.

[0006] The dealer then deals two cards face up to each player and two cards face up for the dealer. Each player who has placed a main bet is then permitted to place a double-down bet, which may be limited to the amount of the main bet. The dealer then deals a final third card face up to each of the players and to the dealer. The sum of the numerical value of the three cards determines the point value of the player's hand and the dealer's hand.

[0007] As is conventionally the case, if either the player or the dealer busts, then the main bet and double-down bet, if placed, is lost or won as the case may be. If the player has not busted and his hand is greater than the dealer, then the player wins even money on his main bet and double-down bet, if placed. If the player's hand and dealer's hand are equal, then the main bet and double-down bet, if placed, are pushed.

[0008] The side bet is an optional betting method which introduces elements of other three-card games. For example, the house may recognize winning hands and provide payouts based on the three cards being sequential or the same, either suited or notsuited. As is obvious, three same cards of the same suit is only possible in multiple deck games. As well, the house may recognize cases where the player's hand equals 19, 20 or 21. Therefore, the side bet is won or lost in accordance with a set of rules which are pre-established by the house. The types of winning hands and payouts provided determine the house edge in the side bet. Those skilled in the art may easily modify the types of winning hands and payouts to increase or decrease the house edge as necessary or desired.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the winning hands and payouts shown in Table 1 provide a 2.6%-2.8% house edge using multiple decks of cards.

[0010] TABLE 1

[0011] Player's Hand Payoff

[0012] Suited 7-7-7 200 1

[0013] Suited 6-7-8 1 00 1

[0014] Any Suit 7-7-7 50 1

[0015] Any Suit 6-7-8 30 1

[0016] Suited 21 15 1

[0017] 21 3 1

[0018] 20 2 1

[0019] 19 2 1

[0020] All Others Loss

[0021] As is apparent to one skilled in the art, the methods disclosed herein may be implemented at a live table game or electronically in an electronic video type gaming device, of the same general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,948,134; 5,022,653; 5,377,973; 5,374,067; and 5,382,025. In the electronic version, the hand(s) of the player(s) and dealer take the form of video representations of playing cards displayed on a screen, under the control of a microprocessor operating under a suitable program.

[0022] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the scope of the invention claimed herein. 

1. A method of playing a game of cards between a dealer and a player using at least one standard deck of cards, comprising the steps of: (a) allowing the player to place a main bet or a side bet, or both a main bet and a side bet; (b) dealing two cards face up to each of the dealer and the player; (c) allowing the player to place a double-down bet, if the player has made a main bet; (d) dealing a third card face up to each of the dealer and the player; (e) collecting the main bet and the double-down bet (if placed) from the player if the sum of the player”s cards exceeds 21 or if the sum of the dealer's cards exceeds the player but not 21; or paying the main bet and the double-down bet (if placed) to the player if the sum of the dealer's cards exceeds 21 or if the sum of the player's cards exceeds the dealer but not 21; and (f) paying any side bet in accordance with a pre-established set of rules.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-established set of rules provides a winning side bet for the player in one or more of the following circumstances: (a) the sum of the player's cards is greater than or equal to 19, but not greater than 21; (b) the sum of the player's cards is equal to 21 and the player's cards are all of one suit; (c) the player's cards are sequential, whether or not they are of different suits; (d) the player's cards are the same card, whether or not they are of different suits;
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the game is played with at least three decks and wherein the pre-established set of rules provides a winning side bet for the player in one or more of the following circumstances (a) the player's cards are sequential and of the same suit; and (b) the player's cards are the same card and of the same suit.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the only winning circumstance where the player's cards are sequential are if the cards are 6, 7 and
 8. 5. The method of claim 3 or 4 wherein the only winning circumstance where the player's cards are the same are if the cards are all
 7. 6. The method of claim 1 where in the pre-established set of rules provides winning side bets in accordance with Table
 1. 